Right Wing Authoritarianism

Go to page

Well-known member

Some of you are probably familiar with the research carried out by Bob Altemeyer since the early 1980's which led to a number of refinements to the existing body of psychological work on the authoritarian personality. This is becoming seemingly more relevant in recent times with the rise of authoritarian populism across the world.

From Wikipedia

"Right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) is a personality and ideological variable studied in political, social, and personality psychology. Right-wing authoritarians are people who have a high degree of willingness to submit to authorities they perceive as established and legitimate, who adhere to societal conventions and norms, and who are hostile and punitive in their attitudes towards people who don't adhere to them. They value uniformity and are in favour of using group authority, including coercion,[clarification needed] to achieve it.[1]"

Altemeyer published a book on the subject that he has made freely available online here:

There are a number of very interesting links / videos on the subject online and I'd encourage anyone to check them out. It's potentially the biggest threat to democracy and possibly the future of humanity since the 1930's.

This should not be seen as a partisan issue or liberal / conservative debating point. Anyone who cares about democracy should take note and educate themselves about this and don't for a minute think it could not happen in Ireland.

Well-known member

Some of you are probably familiar with the research carried out by Bob Altemeyer since the early 1980's which led to a number of refinements to the existing body of psychological work on the authoritarian personality. This is becoming seemingly more relevant in recent times with the rise of authoritarian populism across the world.

From Wikipedia

"Right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) is a personality and ideological variable studied in political, social, and personality psychology. Right-wing authoritarians are people who have a high degree of willingness to submit to authorities they perceive as established and legitimate, who adhere to societal conventions and norms, and who are hostile and punitive in their attitudes towards people who don't adhere to them. They value uniformity and are in favour of using group authority, including coercion,[clarification needed] to achieve it.[1]"

Altemeyer published a book on the subject that he has made freely available online here:

There are a number of very interesting links / videos on the subject online and I'd encourage anyone to check them out. It's potentially the biggest threat to democracy and possibly the future of humanity since the 1930's.

This should not be seen as a partisan issue or liberal / conservative debating point. Anyone who cares about democracy should take note and educate themselves about this and don't for a minute think it could not happen in Ireland.

There are a substantial number of trolling posters here who fit that mould, also a few FF/FG posters (far from all of them) who attempt to throw cold water on any dissent from the establishment line, whistleblowers, talk of AGS/DPP corruption, protest and left wing politics there is often little actual discussion just an attempt to make disagreement seem contemptible and/or absurd.
Too much dissent is actually harmful to society as it degrades trust in institutions and fellow citizens and eventually degrades law and order, however in this state the vast majority of that degradation is down to the appalling behaviour of many of the institutions of the state, particularly AGS.

“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” -Bertrand Russell

1

I'm fed up of constantly hearing about the "Authoritarian Personality"- Adorno actually had a lot of interesting things to say and people who could actually gain a lot from reading him often seem to dismiss him on the basis of that book which was him at his most neurotic worst. The thing is that a lot of Left wing people have "Authoritarian Personalities" to; indeed one of the criticisms you often get from Rightists of the People's Democracies and the Soviet Union is that they banned degenerate music and kept out drugs. The most authoritarian person I know is a Maoist- but I like people with a "Military" vibe about them, I wish I had more of one myself quite often.

Well-known member

I'm fed up of constantly hearing about the "Authoritarian Personality"- Adorno actually had a lot of interesting things to say and people who could actually gain a lot from reading him often seem to dismiss him on the basis of that book which was him at his most neurotic worst. The thing is that a lot of Left wing people have "Authoritarian Personalities" to; indeed one of the criticisms you often get from Rightists of the People's Democracies and the Soviet Union is that they banned degenerate music and kept out drugs. The most authoritarian person I know is a Maoist- but I like people with a "Military" vibe about them, I wish I had more of one myself quite often.

1

They definitely can be loathsome, but they can also be very fine people. It is note worthy that Authoritarians on both Right and Left both seem to always have a massive adoration of Beethovan and Wagner who I also adore.

Libertines on the other hand are nearly always vile creatures.

Is there anyone on the Irish Left who is in favour of banning degenerate music? Some how I doubt it.

Well-known member

They definitely can be loathsome, but they can also be very fine people. It is note worthy that Authoritarians on both Right and Left both seem to always have a massive adoration of Beethovan and Wagner who I also adore.

Libertines on the other hand are nearly always vile creatures.

Is there anyone on the Irish Left who is in favour of banning degenerate music? Some how I doubt it.

"It is important therefore that I clarify to the House that in the first instance there are significant monies within Anglo-Irish to take the strain of loan losses arising over the next three or four years, before State support is engaged." Brian Lenihan 15/01/09

Well-known member

Just like people addicted to anything else there is probably a way to empathise with and accommodate people addicted to power and influence over others. I find authoritarians very similar to people I know who are obsessed with possessiveness (cheerleaders of capitalism), celebrity (famous people and their fanatics) and moral status (the saints and sinners). They all have a huge big hole inside them that they will never fill.

Said the flea upon the axle-tree of the chariot-wheel,
"My what a mighty dust I have raised."